CIC Students Work with 2010 Charleston Wine + Food Festival Stars

From former Top Chef contestants Richard Blais and Ron DuPrat, to celebrity authors Ted and Matt Lee, and celebrity chefs Marvin Woods, Peng Looi, and Roberto Santibanez - and Chef's Garden celebrity Farmer Lee Jones, CIC students had plenty of opportunities to work with the Festival's star power!

CIC Co-Sponsors Wine Event at Charleston Wine + Food Festival

It was a beautiful day for a wine tasting at Mount Pleasant's Waterfront Park, where the CIC and the City of Mount Pleasant co-sponsored the Pinot Envy Event on Saturday afternoon of the 2010 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival. CIC Hospitality Department Chair Patricia Agnew, Hospitality Instructor Blake Hallman, Chef Instructor Scott Stefanelli and a fine group of CIC students spent the afternoon making sure that Festival guests enjoyed the experience.

Photos by Chancel Nuque.

CIC Grad Eric Huff to Compete in Aramark ACE California Competition

At Clemson University on March 2nd, Eric Huff, a recent CIC graduate and nephew of Chef Instructor Miles Huff, competed against thirteen other North and South Carolina Aramark chefs in the Aramark Culinary Excellence Competition. Eric was successful in winning a place to continue on to compete in the finals in California.

The competition's mystery basket consisted of Dover sole,duck breast,oysters, tomatillo and red grapes. The chefs had to use two of the three protiens. The chefs had three hours to produce a entree and a dessert using the mystery basket ingredients plus standard pantry ingredients. Each had to produce one large restaurant-style show plate of both courses accompanied by four tasting plates for a panel of judges. These judges critiqued on every aspect of the dish.

Eric’s Menu: Seared Dover sole with tomatillo and heirloom tomato ragu accompanied by stuffed hushpuppies with oyster medley filling. And: Chocolate creme cheese pave with a berry gastrique, toasted coconut and almond clusters with a vanilla tuile.
(Pictured l-r: Chefs Matt Rogers, Miles Huff & Eric Huff - It's All in the Family!)

Chef Mitchell the Culinary Chair of BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival's Gullah Tribute Luncheon

Photos by Chancel Nuque.

The Gullah Tribute Luncheon, sponsored by FedEx, recognized the Gullah culture that began with the arrival of African slaves to the Sea Islands of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Coming from different regions of Africa, they brought with them their language, cultures, traditions and cuisines, and these creolized into one form known as Gullah, which has been integral to the Lowcountry ever since. During the luncheon, the best local and regional Gullah cooks partnered with national chefs to create a menu that pays homage to traditional Gullah fare. Guests had the opportunity to taste and learn about this cuisine from the cooks themselves, while enjoying Southern-style cocktails and beverages, live entertainers and more.

Featured Local Personalities also included William Baldwin, Novelist & Historian and Jonathan Green, Artist.
The Menu:

Charlotte Jenkins (Gullah Cuisine) & Kevin Mitchell (Culinary Institute of Charleston) Gullah Chicken Stew, Gullah Cuisine’s Famous “Gullah Rice” and Pan Roasted Green Beans with Bacon & Onion
April Mazick (Joe’s Catering) & Marvin Woods Traditional Gullah Pork Ribs with Lemony Sweet Potato Soufflé
Alluette Jones-Smalls (Alluette’s Jazz Café) & Frank Stitt (Highlands Bar and Grill) Roasted Leg of Lamb & Sothern Style Collard Greens
Martha Lou Gadsden (Martha Lou’s Kitchen) & Matt Lee & Ted Lee Okra Soup and Rice & Field Peas with Pigs' Tails
Mary Ravenell (Huger’s) & Donald Link (Cochon & Herbsaint) Conch Stew with Seasoned Rice with Stewed Lima Beans
Dessert – Charlotte Jenkin's Bread Pudding was made by baking and pastry students from the CIC.

CIC Gets a Nod from the "Best Of" Issue of The Charleston City Paper

Best Celebrity Brewer Sighting

Palmer Campus of Trident Tech’s Culinary Institute
by T. Ballard Lesemann
Staff Pick

Samuel Adams brewer Bob Cannon brings out the mighty Utopias
Culinary Institute of Charleston - Palmer Campus
66 Columbus St.
"The Culinary Institute delivered a terrific beer event and fundraiser last July when the enthusiastic staff and students at the institute’s on-site restaurant teamed up with the Boston Beer Company to present a terrific six-course Samuel Adams beer dinner. Chefs, instructors, and students worked with guest presenter Bob Cannon, one of the head brewers at the Boston Beer Company’s headquarters (he’s the guy with the big beard and the shaved head in the commercials). In his crisp Boston accent, Cannon presented classics, seasonals, and — as a grand finale — a brassy, vat-shaped bottle of the brewery’s rare Utopias — a barrel-aged 'beer' with a hefty 27 percent alcohol content (by volume). It looked and smelled more like a brandy than beer. Having a recognizable character like Cannon on hand made it even more enjoyable." http://bit.ly/aZdgYf

Four Winners for National Honey Board Contest

On February 26th, the National Honey Board held a contest at CIC. Out of twenty-three great entrys, the following took home the prizes.

Top left: 1st Place Savory: John Evans' Honey Smoked Pork Belly Confit

Top right: 1st Place Pastry: Lauren Vein's Pain Perdu

Bottom left: 3rd Place: Arlette Krampe-Park's Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Bouché with Fig, Golden Raisin Compote and Watercress

Bottom right: 4th Place: Elizabeth Freer's Almond Encrusted Chicken Roulade

The Lee Brothers and Chef Charlotte Jenkins Cook for Gullah Luncheon at CIC

Ted and Matt Lee, known to culinarians as The Lee Brothers, and Chef Charlotte Jenkins, owner of Gullah Cuisine restaurant, were among participants in the 2010 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival's Gullah Tribute Lunch who prepared their dishes in CIC's kitchens. Under the leadership of Gullah Luncheon culinary chair CIC Chef Instructor Kevin Mitchell, CIC students assisted the guests. Look for more pictures to come.

U.S. House Whip, Congressman James Clyburn, on Campus for Press Conference

While Congressman James Clyburn was on campus for a press conference on February 17th, TTC President Mary Thornley took the opportunity to introduce him to CIC's newest faculty member, Chef Kevin Mitchell.

Chef Huff named Hospitality Educator of the Year by SC Hospitality Association.

The 2010 Stars of the Industry Awards given by the South Carolina Hospitality Association were honored on March 1 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia. CIC Chef Miles Huff was named Hospitality Educator of the Year.

"Teaching foundation culinary courses to hundreds of first year students at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, Chef Huff's easy going manner and quality instruction has helped transition these students from the high school to college setting," the Hospitality announcement. "Voted 'Best Liked Chef Instructor,' Miles counsels and recruits students into the field of culinary arts. Traveling to every ProStart high school in the state, Miles' tireless support of high school students competing in statewide culinary competitions has earned the respect of students and educators statewide. This past summer, Chef Huff spent a week training ProStart high school teachers about the nutritional aspects of cooking and baking. In addition to working with students, Miles volunteers at many community projects, raising the culinary awareness of the Lowcountry of South Carolina."

"I want to personally thank everyone who had anything to do for putting me in for this great award," said Chef Huff. "I am honored and humbled by the whole thing. I have had many people congratulate me for the award from around the college and beyond."